A group of Cambridge University students have staged a “charcoal-fuelled defiance” against Churchill College's decision to endorse "Meat Free Mondays".

The rather bizarre sounding protest comes after Churchill became the latest college at Cambridge University to adopt “Meat-Free Monday", in an attempt to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of veganism.

The BBQ was attended by 10 people (Image: Monday Steak Club)

The group, known as the Monday Steak Club, staged an inaugural BBQ on Churchill's lawn on Monday (May 7) in spite of the meat free decision made by the college, which they referred to as “authoritarian and ineffective actions”.

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Monday Steak Club says it “resents” the Churchill JCR and their “attempt to restrict our freedom of decision-making.”

What has the club actually said and done?

The Monday Steak Club Facebook page released its first post on March 4, saying: “This page has been created for those of us who disagree with the JCR's decision to ban meat on a Monday, and who wish to decide for themselves what to eat. No to meat-free Mondays, yes to liberty.”

However, determination quickly turned to the bizarre, when as part of its cause, the club made reference to King John of England at Runnymede, The First World War and The Magna Carta.

The posts were quickly picked up by Rumorbridge, a Facebook page run by Cambridge University students, saying: “If you stand in front of a mirror on a Monday and say 'meat' three times, the JCRs of all the colleges with Meat Free Monday will appear and force feed you falafel.”

The group then posted a picture of Lady Gaga’s meat dress at the 2010 MTV awards saying: “My culture is NOT your goddamn prom dress”, making reference to the Keziah’s Chinese Prom Dress social media controversy.

On the day of the local elections, the page made a grandstanding endorsement of The Conservative Party saying: “The Monday Steak Club is very pleased to endorse the Conservative and Unionist Party for the local elections taking place today. A Labour Party run by a fanatical vegan Marxist should have no place in decent British politics. Only the Conservatives can tackle the rise of eco-fascism and defend the liberties which are currently under threat!”

However, on Saturday, May 5, Monday Steak Club then said their movement “transcends arbitrary political divides.”

Before posting a screenshot of a Twitter post from Owen Jones, which doesn’t appear to have any relevance to the issue, requesting “very angry middle age men” should “relax, take some time off, and why not have a lovely roast?”.

Sunday Lunch is no laughing matter for the group though, with one member commenting: “Eco-fascist vegans have no political home and should not be afforded one. Their degeneracy operates in isolation and even the Marxists can see that a meat free world would be incomprehensibly dreary. Welcome Owen Jones to the movement!”

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Reaction to the protest

Harry Clynch, a student speaking on behalf of the Steak Club, has backtracked on the group’s comments, saying: “The term ‘eco-fascism’ is meant ultimately humorously, and our group does not take itself too seriously, unlike many on the opposing side. Our meetings are rooted in the activist tradition, but mainly serve as a means to eat steaks, drink beer, and have a laugh.”

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However, his statement again brought politics into the equation, saying: “There is undoubtedly a growing authoritarian tendency amongst much of the modern leftist and environmentalist movement, which seeks to impose their vision of society upon the rest of us, even if that means taking away some of our freedoms.”

The News contacted Churchill College, however, they have not commented at this time.